The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1887-09-09

Produces opaeaaia F1aat Feoa.
There are acres Of land reduced to
sterility by continued cropping that
could be readily brought up II seeded to
clover, and at the proper time turned
under. For clover, whether raised IS
crop to he harvested and fed to stock,
or as fertilizer to be plowed under to
enrich the soil, is one of the most val
liable crops the farmer can raise.
Clover can be sown in the spring and it
will make sufficient growth If the laS1
is not too sterile, to be turned under
during the latter part of the summer.
and crop of wheat may be sown on
the land with favorable results.
One very marked advantage with
clover when used as green manure is
that the whole plant is valuable as q
fertilizer; the roots, tops and all fur
nish a good supply of fertilizing mate
rial. Hence its great value as fer
tilizer, and where one wants to in-
crease the fertility of the soil or to give
life to a sterile, worn-out soil by sup
plying humus and has not sufficient
supply of barnyard manure. then clo-
yer stands his first and readiest means.
And if fed to stock. and there is no
better forage for either horses. cattle.
sheep or hogs. its fertilizing efficacy is
not destroyed. but rather increased, if
carefully husbanded and restored to
the fields. 1t should not be pastured
too heavily if desired for green manur-
ing; however. on pretty fair land. q
very large amount of good pasture can
be secured during the season. and yet
a valuable amount of sward left to DO
plowed under in the fall.
Perhaps the best plan to get good
''catch'' of clover is to thoroughly pre-
pare the land as early in spring rs the
work can be done, then sow the seed.
then run over the ground with light
brush. Clover SO put in seldom fails
to do we'll. Some, however. and usu-
ally with fair success. SOW earlier and
broadcast upon the wheat. allowing it
to make good growth after the crop
of wheat is taken of. But to sow
alone. as first mentioned. secures an
earlier and heavier crop.
A soil renovated by clover is especial
ly good for wheat and corn, and, in-
deed, if the process should be continued.
the soil could be rendered as produce
tive as virgin soil for these or any
other crops. But so far as green ma
nuring is concerned, other crops rs well
as clover are good; yet it is universally
admitted that red clover is the best for
this purpose. Then follow rye, buck
wheat and, in some sections. peas. etc.
Now, these green crops, turned under
and left to decay. loosen the soil and
enrich it, besides ncutralizing elements
that are not favorable to the growth of
crops. And there are many soils
throughout the country that need this
kind of treatment, in order, as it were,
to correct them as we'll as to add to
their fertility.
Now, we do not here mean to assert
that green manure is better than stable
manure. for such is not the case; but
our object is to impress upon the minds
of farmers the importance of green ma
nuring. 1t is not an easy matter to get
stable or barnyard manure enough on
the farm to supply every place where it
is needed. Then it is. though not SO
good, that green manure can be made.
in time. to supply the demand. 1t is
not only convenient, but is much
cheaper than any other thing attainable
for this particular purpose. Humus is
formed by the decomposition of animal
and vegetable matter, hence soil is
more or less productive in proportion
to the amount of humus it contains.
If, then, a heavy growth of vegeta-
ton be plowed under, certain amount
of humus or plant food is returned to
the soil; it follows that the repeated
blowing under of green crops will fill
the ground with humus. and in time
restore the worst worn lands to fertil-
ity.-N y Herald.